The plaintiffs want the court to set an early date to hear a motion seeking to have the court make directions for exchange of legal documents with a view to getting the earliest possible date for a hearing of the full case.

Among the directions sought is whether the proceedings should be served on the British government.

The plaintiffs also want the Irish court to decide whether the Court of Justice of the EU should determine legal issues in the case.

Mr Justice Noonan said he considered the directions motion was a more appropriate matter for the president of the High Court, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, to deal with but that was for Mr Justice Kelly to decide.

The plaintiffs are Mr Maugham; Northern Ireland Green Party leader and MLA Steven Agnew; Jonathan Bartley, coleader of the Green Party of England and Wales, and Green Party MEP for the southeast of England Keith Taylor.